The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

A moment of silence fell over the dinner table.

Grandma Gu said, "To tell you the truth, your grandfather and I are worried about your aunt's dowry. The Fan family's condition is that your aunt needs at least five hundred taels of silver as a dowry, otherwise the marriage cannot be arranged. Your aunt is getting old and there is no better match than Fan Tong. We asked you to come here to discuss your aunt's dowry."

Actually, Old Lady Gu had overstated the amount to three hundred and fifty taels.

She figured that five hundred taels wouldn't be difficult for Lu Zhaozhao anyway.

With five hundred taels of silver in hand, two hundred taels will be given to Honglian, two hundred taels to Gu Youtian, and the remaining one hundred taels will be kept as a coffin fund.

Gu Jingzhe didn't respond to Old Madam Gu's words, but turned to Gu Youtian and asked, "Second Uncle, what do you think about Aunt's dowry?"

Gu Youtian felt a little flustered when his nephew suddenly called out his name.

He has no particular thoughts about what he's thinking.

He felt that Fan Xiucai, being a poor scholar, couldn't afford a bride price and that Gu Honglian should bring her own dowry, so the marriage shouldn't be agreed to. He believed that Gu Honglian, as his sister, should earn the bride price for her brother.

However, Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu couldn't dissuade Gu Honglian from marrying Fan Tong.

Since he can't benefit from his sister's marriage, he shouldn't expect him to contribute any dowry.

Gu Youtian picked up a piece of egg with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, saying, "What could I possibly think? Ruinian is still heavily in debt from his wedding, where would he find extra money to prepare a dowry for your aunt?"

Gu Honglian's eyes reddened.

There's absolutely no way to rely on my second brother.

Even if he had money, he wouldn't give her a dowry.

They wanted to sell her for a good price, but she certainly wouldn't let her second brother have his way.

Grandpa Gu said, "You know our family's situation. Let alone five hundred taels, we can't even come up with fifty taels."

Gu Jingzhe looked at Old Master Gu: "You knew you couldn't come up with five hundred taels, so why did you agree? If it's five hundred taels, why doesn't he just rob us? How much dowry did the Fan family give my aunt?"

Based on his understanding of Fan Tong, he wished he could exchange his status as a scholar for half of his wife's dowry.

For example, Huang Jingshan was Fan Tong's former target.

If he wants a larger dowry, then someone has to be willing to pay for it.

There are several Huang families in the entire Yanguan Town.

Ever since he started having affairs with both Huang Jingshan and Gu Taohua, and with the combined efforts of the Huang family and Tong Huaqiong, Fan Tong's reputation in the entire Yanguan Town has been ruined.

He had the title of scholar but couldn't exchange it for any benefits, and wealthy families generally wouldn't want to marry him.

Even if she were willing to marry him, the title of scholar wouldn't be worth five hundred taels of silver.

His status as a scholar could only fool Old Master Gu and Old Madam Gu.

Grandpa Gu evaded the question, refusing to mention how much dowry Fan Tong had given Gu Honglian.

Gu Jingzhe sneered inwardly, fearing that his grandparents had too much of a bias against the scholar's identity, and would unconsciously feel inferior to the Fan family.

Grandpa Gu said, "Fan Tong is different from ordinary farmers. Your aunt is already doing well to find a scholar. How can we let the Fan family pay more for the bride price?"

Gu Jingzhe said, "Why are you all putting on such a humble posture? How is Auntie marrying up? Auntie didn't come to the Fan family to freeload. She has to do housework for the Fan family and have children for the Fan family. I think Auntie has contributed much more than Fan Tong. Why shouldn't the Fan family give an equal dowry?"

Gu Jingzhe felt that it was fine for Fan Tong to ask the Gu family for a dowry, but he also had to give something in return. He couldn't just offer a scholar's title. Gu Jingzhe said, "Does Fan Tong not know your situation? If the Fan family asks for a dowry of five hundred taels of silver, it's not a sincere marriage proposal. It's an exorbitant demand, an attempt to make a fortune through marriage."

At this point, Gu Jingzhe suddenly understood.

Fan Tong wasn't asking Gu Honglian for a dowry; he was asking Tong Huaqiong for a dowry through Gu Honglian.

Grandma Gu said, "You are a scholar who has passed the imperial examination, so naturally you don't care about a mere xiucai. For us farmers, being able to marry a xiucai is already a blessing. Besides, your aunt still has to work and have children even if she marries a farmer, and she doesn't have the same prestige as a xiucai's wife."

Gu Jingzhe didn't understand Old Madam Gu's thought process and said, "You just said that the reason Fan Tong is willing to discuss marriage with my aunt is because he values ​​my mother's resources. In that case, how can you, relying on the resources of our eldest son's family, be controlled by Fan Tong? He can't just give you whatever dowry he wants. Does he mean that if he wants the entire Gu family, you have to hand over your entire fortune? There's no such logic."

"Go and ask around, besides your little aunt, who else in the entire Yanguan Town would be willing to marry Fan Tong?"

Gu Honglian felt uncomfortable after hearing this.

Fan Tong is definitely better off than Gu Ruinian, and Gu Ruinian even has Wu Na throwing herself at him.

The allure of the scholar was far greater than Gu Jingzhe had imagined.

After a moment's thought, Grandpa Gu said, "The point isn't that we'll give Fan Tong whatever amount he asks for. The point is that your grandma and I also want your aunt to not be mistreated after she marries into the family. Your grandma and I only have this one daughter, and her dowry can't be worse than your wife's, or even compared to the other girls in the village."

Grandma Gu said, "With a dowry, your aunt will have more confidence when she goes to the Fan family. If Fan Tong becomes successful and starts to have wicked ideas, your aunt will still have the dowry to rely on. Just like your wife, why did the Lu family prepare so much dowry for her? It's to prepare for that day."

Gu Jingzhe wanted to rub his forehead.

How was he supposed to respond to that?

If he changes his mind, his mother will be the first to kill him.

Gu Honglian stared intently at Gu Jingzhe, wondering how her nephew had managed to pass the imperial examination with such high honors. No matter how much his parents explained, he just couldn't grasp their intentions.

Grandpa Gu was also angry. He had a lot of pride, and he wanted to subtly suggest that Gu Jingzhe offer to add to his aunt's dowry himself.

Sun Tzu pestered him relentlessly, but refused to take the initiative to do so.

Grandpa Gu looked at Lu Zhaozhao. Shouldn't his granddaughter-in-law remind Gu Jingzhe?

He didn't believe that Lu Zhaozhao couldn't see through their intentions. He had heard that Lu Zhaozhao managed the Lu family's business and had seen all sorts of faces in the business world. The fact that she didn't remind Gu Jingzhe only showed that Lu Zhaozhao didn't take the two elders or Gu Honglian seriously.

Lu Zhaozhao pretended to be drinking her soup with her head down, completely ignoring the commotion at the dinner table.

At this moment, Madam Jia spoke with a smile.

“Jingzhe, don’t blame your second aunt for being nosy. Your aunt has been looking for a husband since she was fourteen, but she hasn’t met anyone she’s satisfied with. She finally met a suitable scholar, Fan, and we can’t let things fall apart because of the dowry.”

"Logically, your grandparents should pay for this, but they are old and unable to earn money, so they invited you here. They are embarrassed to ask, so I have to play the bad guy. Your family is not short of money now, so could you contribute your aunt's five hundred taels of dowry?"

Grandma Gu looked at Madam Jia.

This was the first time in three years that she felt satisfied with Jia.

Gu Honglian also looked at her second sister-in-law with gratitude.

Jia looked at Gu Jingzhe with a smile.

She's been so direct; Gu Jingzhe probably won't refuse. (End of Chapter)